Connecting to Ad-hoc networks in Windows 8.1

Hey guys I recently came across this problem when playing CS with friends. You might have noticed that Windows 8.1 doesn’t shows ad-hoc networks (created using laptop) in the sidebar like usual hotspot networks (created from a router). Now you don’t need to be a die-hard geek to make this work. It took me quite some while to research but you guys just follow this short guide:

1. Fire up a terminal window by pressing Windows + R and type in:

cmd

2. Show up all available connections:

netsh wlan show networks

3. Now some set-up. Go to Network and Sharing Center:

> Set up a new connection or network

> Manually connect to wireless network

> enter SSID of ad-hoc

> configure security settings

> uncheck start this connection automatically

> Next

> Close

4. Define connection type <SSID> = <name of the ad-hoc network> :

netsh wlan set profileparameter <SSID> connectiontype=ibss

5. Connecting :

netsh wlan connect <SSID>

6. Disconnecting :

netsh wlan disconnect

7. Clearing network profile :

netsh wlan delete profile <SSID>

This should do the trick. Don’t worry if your friends manage to get some heads up before you join up 😉